Ducati happy with Hayden

I will say that the Ducati did not suit Melandri's riding style, just as the 800 honda did not suit hayden. Melandri is fansastic on a GP style bike where Hayden came form dirt and superbike It will be interesting to see what happens.
 
FOG,

Well said. It will be interesting to see if Hayden can ride the GP9 competitively. As you pointed out, Melandri, (who's a great rider), was not competitive on the Duc. I can't help but wonder why Ducati didn't go with Gibernau, who had tested several times on Ducati, and was fast on it. Very fast, almost as fast as Stoner. But instead of going with a known quantity, Ducati decided to gamble with Hayden, who may be fast on the Duc, or may turn out to be another Melandri. Which is to say, a great rider who just can't seem to win on the Duc.

I, for one, would feel a whole lot better about next year if Ducati had gone with Gibernau over Hayden.

Elton
 
Elton,

My guess is that it is due to age. Gibernau does not have much time left in racing and IF hayden can get a grip on the Duc, they will have a dynasty for a long time. They probably feel that it is worth the gamble.

FOG
 
I heard Melandri in an interview at the Phillip Island Moto GP race. He said he wanted Ducati to change the bike to suit him and they would not, basically because they were happy with the way stoner liked the bike, and of course how well Stoner was going.

I could never understand why he couldn't get the thing going. He used to be a great rider.
 
SMOOTH.... just like Rossi when he overtook Stoner in the corkscrew at Laguna.... SMOOOOTH?! Ummmm yeah.... I'll give you smooth when there is nobody within 2 secs of you... which is great racing isn't it? But when the heat gets turned up and the 7 times a year when we actually see some racing... its anything but smooth. And then the real riders shine.

Ever since traction control took the racing out of MotoGP it has lent itself towards shitty racing. Watch WSBK for better racing... and MotoGP to cheer on your 'mates'.

Pedrossa cant ride my kids big wheel.... its too big for him!
 
Midwest,

You're right inasmuch as there was nothing, "smooth," about Rossi's LS corkscrew pass. But I hope you're not holding up Rossi's inappropriate, (and arguably illegal!), pass of Stoner through the LS corkscrew last summer as one of motogg's finer moments. 'Cause it wasn't. That pass had nothing to do with motogp, and was an embarrassement to the sport. In motogp, you're supposed to pass your opponents on the track, not cut corners through the dirt. If you thought that pass was great or exciting or cool or whatever, then IMO, you're missing the point of motogp.

Btw, I watched that race, in Italy, in a bar, with a bunch of Rossi fans. None of them were impressed. They grimmaced and shook their heads with disapproval. Those kind of cowboy antics, while consistent with Rossi's character, have no place in motogp.

Just my opinion.

Elton
 
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